Executive Summary
TEAM OREGON BUILD (TOB) is a groundbreaking Career Connected Learning (CCL) initiative funded in 2024 by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) in partnership with local and state agencies including Oregon Housing and Community Services and the OregonWorkforce Talent and Development Board. Led by Mid-Willamette Education Consortium,Lane ESD and Southern Oregon ESD, this program empowers youth to serve Oregon's communities through service-based construction projects, merging skills training with community service to address critical housing needs and workforce development.
Please view this video as an introduction to our story:
Mission
The mission of Team Oregon Build is to engage, educate and empower youth through hands-on construction and manufacturing projects. The initiative aims to provide pathways for career development in high-demand trades while addressing the urgent need for safe and sustainable housing. By encouraging partnerships among schools, industry professionals and community organizations, the program creates career-connected learning opportunities for students to develop technical proficiency, workforce readiness and essential employability skills. The initiative also supports disaster readiness and recovery, reducing housing insecurity by creating an inventory of safe shelters in the event of future disasters and building resilient communities across Oregon.
Key Goals
Enhance Educational Outcomes:
By integrating Career Connected Learning and Career Technical Education (CTE) with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) principles, the program boosts student engagement and attendance, turning classrooms into dynamic learning environments.
Develop Workforce Skills:
Students gain critical construction and manufacturing skills through hands-on projects, preparing them for high-demand, high-wage roles in the workforce. Oregon currently faces a workforce shortage of 7% with 17% forecasted growth by 2032. (See Oregon Employment Department projections)
Students Support Disaster Recovery:
The initiative contributes to disaster resilience by training students in construction and crisis response skills, helping communities recover from emergencies, creating an inventory of safe shelters for readiness and building a network of recovery-based first responders. Students gain increased awareness and explore expanding careers in disaster-crisis readiness, response, recovery and resilience.
Address Housing Shortages:
In 2022, Oregon Housing Needs Analysis estimated that Oregon currently faces a shortage of 140,000 homes and needs to produce almost 450,000 homes over the next 20 years to keep pace with demand. Team Oregon Build aims to close this gap by significantly increasing housing production by expanding the pipeline of skilled professionals in the construction industry, directly supporting the goals outlined in Executive Order No. 23-04.
Program Impact
Student Participation:
As of November 2024*, Team Oregon Build has provided over 11,000 hands-on learning experiences to nearly 5,000 middle and high school students across the state. Team Oregon Build has engaged over 115 instructors from 86 school programs and has received 428 order submissions for sheds, shelters and supplementary materials. This program is an exemplar of Career Connected Learning and aligns with Oregon Department of Education priority initiatives supporting students, which include programs such as Career and Technical Education, Work-Based Learning (WBL), STEM and 9th Grade-on-Track.
This hands-on, project-based learning contributes to regular attendance, increases graduation rates and improves students’ social and emotional well-being. While students learn essential employability skills, engage in career preparation and training, they can also earn community college credits along with industry-recognized credentials. *For current numbers click here.
Community Involvement:
Career Connected Learning relies on vital support from industry professionals and community members who play a crucial role in mentoring students and supporting local homeless and disaster-crisis response efforts.
Watch this video to learn more:Tribal Partnership:
The partnership with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) exemplifies the power of collaboration between Tribal Nations and educational programs. By working with Team Oregon Build, CTUIR has created valuable construction skill-building opportunities for Native and non-Native youth while addressing workforce needs within the Tribe and surrounding areas. This initiative provides hands-on experience that contributes to vital housing projects, serving as a model for inclusive, community-centered partnerships.
Long-term Vision:
Team Oregon Build aims to establish a comprehensive Career Connected Learning and CTE continuum spanning elementary through middle and high schools. It seeks to create a sustainable ecosystem that links education with workforce development and to secure ongoing funding and legislative support for statewide expansion.
Conclusion
Team Oregon Build is an innovative, collaborative project-based learning effort that prepares students for careers and college while providing a vital community service to address Oregon's housing crisis.By engaging in CareerConnected Learning focused on engineering and construction trades, students not only gain valuable skills but
also contribute to community resilience, disaster preparedness and crisis response.
Team Oregon Build helps build a brighter future for all Oregonians.
Team Oregon Build is seeking additional funding to sustain and expand our collective effort.
If you are an agency or an organization that knows of an opportunity or is interested in participating in our work, please contact Shareen Vogel at [email protected], or start a chat with our team using the chat icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen.
For additional information, please visit the website:
